The Friday links, for your clicking pleasure.
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Temple has all the makings of an elite hoops program.
One of Philadelphia’s legendary “Big Five,” the Owls have 26 NCAA tournament appearances, 16 conferences titles, claimed the first NIT trophy and produced their share of NBA players.
The most impressive number though? Temple’s 1,689 victories, sixth most among D-I schools. Yes, the program’s been around since 1895, but it’s won 64 percent of those games – the same percentage as Indiana and Arizona.
That kind of prolonged success is a big reason behind Temple’s position at No. 23 in the greatest college basketball programs of all time.
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The post-Final Four, pre-NBA draft, mid-late-signing period 2008-09 preseason college basketball rankings can be tricky.
Thankfully, the Web is here to help.
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A handful of football schools made the list of the greatest basketball programs of all time. Couldn’t be helped. Even football schools produce good hoops teams, though it seems like more and more are emerging.
And at No. 24, the Oklahoma Sooners are the first football school on this list.
It may seem strange that Oklahoma landed one spot ahead of N.C. State, one of the game’s historic powers, but give the Sooners their due. They’re worthy.
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What’s the deal with the other draft? You know, the one where college basketball prospects have to inform the NBA of their intentions by Sunday?
Click here to see who’s in. The last few days were especially busy.
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N.C. State doesn’t lack for hoops history.
The Pack has multiple NCAA Tournament titles, more than 1,500 wins and their 36-game winning streak is among the best in NCAA history.
Prefer your history by years? Only Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky squads won more games in the 1950s, the 1973-74 squad could be considered the greatest ever, while Jimmy V’s 1983 team pulled off perhaps the biggest upset the Big Dance has ever seen.
The topper? N.C. State started the tradition of cutting down the nets after winning a title. Move over Jim Burt.
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If there’s ever a time to feel sorry for UCLA – 11 NCAA titles? Share the wealth, Westwood! – this week was the time. For about 5 seconds.
Losing Kevin love and Russell Westbrook on the same day is par for the course in college hoops today. But having your starting power forward declare a day later just aggravates the wound. Waiting to see if your starting point guard will also leave may mean some amputation.
Unless, of course, you’re UCLA.
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So Kevin Love’s in the NBA draft. So are Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur. So is Russell Westbrook. All of them except for Rush are likely lottery picks.
Just how will they be as pros? I wouldn’t project any of ‘em as future All-Pros, but there’ll be a few All-Star games involved.
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It’s easy to spot the best men’s college basketball programs. They have the most wins, NCAA Tournament victories and titles, have thrived recently and send more players to the NBA than any other schools.
You know ‘em: UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Indiana and Duke. Six schools who have rich basketball traditions, devout fan bases and high expectations every season.
The harder part is figuring out which teams come after the stellar six. Who are those teams?
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A cavalcade of links, random thoughts and more from what’s been a fabulous college hoops week. Well, at least if you like Kansas...
Mario Chalmers shoots his way into NCAA lore and Bill Self makes a state ecstatic. Good things happen in bunches.
Not so good? Memphis' bad luck, Stanford's retain rate (for coaches) and beware Jay Bilas' verbal smackdown.
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